Driving mechanism for centrifugal machines.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

G. ENGBL. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR GENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 7, 1902.

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PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

G. ENGEL. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR GENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION TILED OUT. 7, 1902.

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GODFREY ENGEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,378, dated July 14, 1903.

Application filed October 7, 1902.

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GODFREY ENGEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Centrifugal Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in driving mechanism for centrifugal machines, and particularly for direct-driven suspension centrifugal machines; and it consists in the use of a basket-shaft mounted both to rotate and to gyrate and a motor havinga shaft arranged to rotate but not to gyrate, in combination with power-transmitting means arranged to transmit rotary motion from said motor-shaft to said basket-shaft, while permitting gyration of the latter.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the driving of centrifugal machines by directly-connected motors.

In the construction of centrifugal machines it is necessary to provide for gyration of the basket-shaft and basket, so that these parts may find their proper center of rotation. It is desirable that such machines shall be driven by independent directly-connected motors, so that each machine shall be independent of the others and shall-not require belting and lineshafts for driving it. Any suitable motor may be used, electric motors being convenient for the purpose. One method of driving centrifugal machines by directly-connected m0- tors is to mount the armature or other rotating member of the motor upon the basketshaft, in which case it is essential in order that the motor may be economical that the field of the motor or other stationary member of said motor shall be so mounted as to partake of the gyratory motion of the shaft, and thereby remain concentric with respect to such armature. A centrifugal machine so constructed is shown in a companion application for Letters Patent, or the motor may be supported independently of the basketshaft, the shaft of the motor being arranged to rotate, but not to gyrate, and power-transmitting means arranged to transmit rotary motion from the motor-shaft to the basket- Serial No. 126,361. (No modeLE shaft while permitting gyration of the latter may be employed. The latter is the method employed in the centrifugal machines herein illustrated and described.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a central vertical section of one form of motor-driven centrifugal machine embodying my inven tion. Fig. 2 isa detail view of one member of the power-transmitting device employed. Fig. 3 shows a central vertical section of a second form of centrifugal machine embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawings and at first to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine there shown is of the suspension type, having a socket-piece 1, provided with a substantially spherical socket, within which is a substantially spherical suspension-head 2, provided with a suspension-bracket 3, from which the curb 4 of the machine is supported by suspension-rods 5. The basket-shaft 6 is supported from this curb, and therefore from the suspension-head, by means of a spider 7, having supporting and guiding bearings for the lower end of said shaft. At its upper end the basket-shaft has a tapered portion 8, fitting Within a taper bearing-bushing 9, located within a socket of the suspension-head and arranged to be adjusted for taking up wear by means of studs 10. It will be observed that as the basket-shaft and basket gyrate during the operation of the machine such gyration takes place from the ball-and-socket suspensionjoint as a center, the suspension-head 2 and curb a partaking of this gyration. The suspension-bracket 3, rods 5, curb L, and spider 7 all constitute a suspender for carrying the weight of the machine from the said ball-andsocket suspension-joint.

The motor 11 for driving the centrifugal machine may be located above the suspension-socket 1. Any suitable type of motor steam, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric may be employed. The particular motor illustrated is a three-phase alternating-current motor having a vertical armature-shaft 12, which is in line with the basket-shaft when the latter is truly vertical. The armatureor ribs 15, as shown.

shaft is so mounted, however, that although free to rotate it can have no gyratory motion. Motion is transmitted from shaft 12 to the basket-shaft 6 by what may be described either as a loose -jawed coupling or as spherical gearing, said gearing consisting of two spherical segments 13 and 14, placed face to face and having intermeshing teeth Such coupling or gearing transmits rotary motion freely, while at the same time it permits free gyration of the basket-shaft with respect to the motor-shaft.

Instead of employing spherical gearing, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 may be employed. In this form of machine the basket-shaft is supported by a suspension-socket l and suspension-head 2, as in Fig. 1; but the basket-shaft 16 is hollow and is supported by means of a central Suspender-rod 17, secured to the head 2, located within the bore of the hollow basket-shaft. and provided at its lower end with the usual lower bearing of this type of centrifugal machine.

The motor 11 for driving'the basket-shaft may be of any desired type and, as shown, is of the same type as that shown in Fig. l; but it is set to one side of the line of shaft 16, its armature-shaft 12 carrying a spherical gear 18, intermeshing with another spherical gear 19, carried by a spider 20, secured to the upper end of shaft 16.

It will be seen that in both forms of centrifugal machine herein illustrated and de-- scribed the basket-shaft and basket may gy rate freely without interfering with the transmission of motion from the motor to the basket-shaft.

It is obvious that my invention herein described is susceptible of various variations and modifications without departing from the essential features thereof. I wish it to be understood, therefore, that I do not limit myself to the particular constructions shown and described.

Having thus completely described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In driving mechanism for centrifugal machines, the combination of a basket-shaft mounted both to rotate and to gyrate, a motor having a driving-shaft mounted to rotate socket, asuspension-head, abasket-shaft,and

means for suspending the same from said head,ofa motor havinga driving-shaft mounted to rotate but not to gyrate, and powertransmitting mechanism interposed between said shafts.

4. In driving mechanism for centrifugal machines, the combination with a suspensionsocket, a suspension-head, a basket-shaft,and means for suspending the same from said head,ofamotorhavingadriving-shaft mounted to rotate but not to gyrate, and spherical gearing interposed between said shafts.

5. In driving mechanism for centrifugal machines, the combination with a revoluble basket-shaft, and a gyrating non-revolving suspender therefor having a flexible-joint suspension, of a driving-shaft for driving said basket-shaft, and power-transmitting mechanism interposed between said shafts.

6. In driving mechanism for centrifugal machines, the combination with a revoluble basket-shaft, and a gyrating non-revolving suspender therefor having a flexible-joint suspension, of a driving-shaft for driving said basket-shaft, and a flexible coupling interposed between said shafts.

7. In driving mechanism for centrifugal machines, the combination with a suspensionsocket, a suspension-head, a basket-shaft, and means for suspending the same from said head ,of a motor having a driving-shaft mounted to rotate but not to gyrate, and spherical gearing interposed between said shafts and forming a flexible coupling between the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GODFREY ENGEL.

Witnesses:

R. MARsDEN SMITH, E. L. WILLIAMsoN. 

